Latching device



H. J. M DERMOTT LATCHING DEVICE Feb. 14, 1950 2 Shets-Sheet 1 Filed NOV. 15, 1945 INVENTOR.

Feb. 14, 1950 H. J. MODERMOTT 2,497,267

LATCI-IING DEVICE Y Filed Nov 13, 1945 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 E? v a; hi

[N V EN TOR.

Patented Feb. 14, 1950 i UNITED "st-Ares PATENT- OFFICE -.-Henry J. .:McDermott, -Collingdale, Pa., assignor to American Viscose Corporation, Wilmington, .De'L, a corporation of Delaware ApplicationNovember- 13, 1945,'S'erial No. 628,213

7 ;11Illaims. i1

PI-his invention relates in zdevifies fol' f e n various parts, such as spools, sleeves jdiscsihubs, or ithe like, to a :rod .or shaft, ':.either at the end thereof or;at spaced -intervals :along the length thereof.

The principal object of the :invention is to provide a latching device of the simplest-possible construction requiring the fewest parts and the minimumhamount' of special machining of the portions :of'athe :rod .or shaft adapted 'toreceive the device. .A further-and important object of the invention isto provide. adevice of. this ;type which is 'so constructedtthat all parts remain permanently. in place, on the :rod vor' -s haf,t,;: arbor or the like prior togduringrand :after the placing .or :removal of :the parts which are-to be re- :In vthe ."idrawing, which :is illustrative nf preferred embodiments..ofztheiiinventiton,

Figure .1 is sectional :elevation :of: :one :form of the device, 3

Fi re v.2 isca corresponding =unsectioned elevation, I I I Figure 3 is a transverse section taken on the; line iIlI-e-ll'rpflFigure 41, V

Figure 4 :is. atransverseisection stakenon -line;

of Eigure 31, 1 Figure 55.1is :a.sectionalelevationrof :arnodificw tion,

Figure dis :a transverseasection. taken on line vl vloffigure 5., l

:Figure '7 is a transverse section throu h-area provided at an intermediate position with .a, modified form of; the, invention,

.Figure 8 is .a-transverse cross section ion, line VIII.VII. F ure 7,.

Figure .9 is .a sectional elevation of, ranother modification, and V l Eig-ure l0 :a;.pl an view. of. the Iatchmedevice of; Figure 9 :with the cap :remoyed.

7 and theknitted abrio-,-s'leev,e wrapper c romed;

2 platform 3 to expose the exterior periphery of thetcake so that thestrand 'Fl may be unwound from the outerconvolutions thereof. An inverted .ipie-plate' .8 islaid upon the cake :and 'hasa sleeve :or hub 9 secured thereto. The hub .19 serves conveniently as a handle. The .plate 8 rests upon the :Celluloidor paper cuff 5 and to: preventthepie-plate from being lifted from the standard in-cas'e of snagging or tangling of the strand 1, the :device of the present invention is inserted :into the open end of the standard in which .it' isretained by a'transverse pin ll.

.As :shown in this embodiment of the invention, the device comprises. a bifurcated member.A set in and partially extending out of a recess or bore of the standard .2. Each prong .consists of a resilient member which is adapted to besprun g inwardly thoughit normally takes the position shownin-Figure 1. .Each zresilient member hasa latching elements-l2, projectingroutwardlyfrom an intermediate portion of itslength so -as-to project beyond thecircumference of the I standard Land thereby retain .the sleeve .8 in place. The latching face of theelement i2 has a portion 13. which engages the sleeve -9 inclined substantially perpendicularly to.-the axis of the standard. The other face Id of the latching element slopes inwardly-to the body of-the resilient member. shown,..the juncture of the body of the member to this-sloped surface 14. may be somewhat necked clown and a cap l.5,having its peripheral wall t6, in ethezform of asleeve is adapted to surround,

the portion of the-resilient member projecting beyond the-neck. v The cap l5 has aninward-ly turned bead H which normallyencircles .the neck formedaboutthetwoiresilient members. Theend wall of the .cap lei-sufficiently spaced from the bead H to permit the sleeve to slide axially of the. resilient :members a sufiicient distancev to I pinch them together enough to allow the sleeve ingLdevice .ofthe present invention, it .is :merely necessary ..to slip the ,pi.eplate.over ,the cap [5 and to. force it downwardly .over the latching back upon itself upon the top and laid over-.the.,.66; outwardly and prevent.accidentalremoval off the a 2 pie-plate. In removing the pie-plate from the standard, it is merely necessary for an operator to place his thumb against the end of the cap l and two or more fingers of the same hand about the sleeve 9 so-that at least one finger engages each of the opposite sides thereof, pressing down with the thumb while pulling upwardly on the sleeve 9 with the fingers. When the latching elements 12 are sumciently retracted by the bead I! of the cap, the sleeve 9 will slide over them and continued pulling movement by the fingers draws it entirely over the end of the standard.

Figures 5 and 6 show a modification in which the cross section of the bifurcated member is altered to enhance the springiness. Such alteracap from being removed accidentally during use. Another variation is the provision of the sloped face Ma extending inwardly from the portion I3 of the latching face. This additional slope reduces the effort needed to contract the prongs when removing or applying the plate 8 since the member A moves downwardly in the recess in rod 2 when the thumb of the operator presses cap l5 downwardly.

While the invention has been illustrated with particular reference to the holding of spools or tion merely consists in giving the inner surface of each resilient member or prong a concave curvature. A further modification is to provide only one of such resilient members with a latching element 12.-

Figures '7 and 8 show a modification in which a solid shaft 2| is provided with one or more fastening elements positioned intermediate of its length. This shaft may be used to support a plurality of objects, such as wound rayon cakes, so that they are spaced apart thereon. Only one fastening element is shown and it comprises a resilient member 22 having the latch element 23 extending outwardly from an intermediate portion of its length. One end of the member 22- may be bent back upon itself as shown at 24. The member 22 is positioned in a recess 25 taking almost but not quite a quadrantal shape as shown in the cross section of Figure 8. The portion of the rod in the vicinity of the device has a reduced diameter so that it accommodates a sleeve 26 slidably thereon, the sleeve 26 having an external diameter substantially the same as the diameter of the shaft. As shown, the sleeve 26 normally overhangs somewhat. the body of the member 22 adjacent the sloped surface of the In a manner analogous to that of the embodiment shown in Figures 1 to 6, the resilient member or members 22 of this embodiment normallytakes the position shown in the drawing but are moved into retracted position entirely within the sleeve 26 when that sleeve is slid axially of the rod.

Figures 9 and 10 show a modification of the form of latch shown in Figures 1 to 4 in which the bifurcated member A has a flattened cross-- section (see Figure 10 especially) and the bead end of each prong has a laterally overhanging projection 30, the projection of one prong extending in a direction opposite to that of the projection on the other prong. This arrangement allows the cap I5 to be applied or removed" at will merely by pinching the prongs together while shifting them laterally (by pressing to-- gather in the direction of the arrows in Fig. 10)

until the bead I1 passes over the heads of the prongs. While the cap I5 is in place, the projections 30 engage the bead H to prevent the other wound packages of yarns and the like, it is to be understood that the device of the invention may serve to retain releasably any parts, devices, or the like which may be positioned upon a rod or shaft. Again, whereas the invention has been illustrated with particular reference to retaining parts upon rods or the like having a circular periphery, it is to be understood that rods or shafts having peripheries of rectangular, square, hexagonal, elliptical or any other shape may be utilized.

It is to be understood that changes and variations may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In a device for releasably retaining a parton a rod extending therethrough and having a recess,a radially inwardly retractableresilientmember secured in the recess in the rod and extending generally longitudinally with respect thereto, a latchin element projecting laterally outwardly from the member at a position intermediat of; its length and having in its normal position of rest,- an outer limit of projection which is spaced beyond the outer diameter of the rod a distance no greater than the distance that the member: is inwardly retractable, one face of the element. being gradually sloped inwardly and the other: face' of the element havinga portion inclined abruptly to the body of the member and a sleeve normally mounted co-axially with respect to the rod with a portion surrounding that portion of the body of the member adjacent the gradually sloped surface of the'latching element, said sleeve being movable axially with respect to the member and over the gradually sloped face thereof whereby it engages the element and retracts it inward- 1y.

2. In a device for releasably retaining a part; one rod'extending therethrough and having a recess, a radially inwardly retractable resilient. member secured in the recess in the rod and extending generally longitudinally with respect" thereto, a latching element projecting laterally outwardly from the member at a position intermediate of its length and having in its normal position of rest, an outer limit of projection which is spaced beyond the outer diameter of the rod a: distance no greater than the distance that the member is inwardly retractable, one face of the element being gradually sloped inwardly and the other face of the element having a portion inclined abruptly to the body of the member and a sleeve having an outside diameter at least as small as the diameter of the rod normally mounted co-axially with respect to the rod with a portion surrounding that portion of the body of the member adjacent the gradually sloped surface of the latching element, said sleeve being: movable axially with respect to the member'- and over the gradually sloped face thereof where-' by it engages the element and retracts it in--f wardly. e

3. A device for:relcasablyrretelining a part onza rod extending'therethrough comprising a'retractable resilient member securd to one end of the rod and extending generally longitudinally with respect theretoga latching element projecting laterally outwardly from the -member at a position intermediate its length and having inits normal position of rest, an outer limit of rpr'oj e'o-i tion which is spaced beyondthe cuter diameter of the rod a -distance no greater than the :dis-. tance thatth member is inwardly retractable; one face' of the element being gradually sloped inwardly and the other face of the element having a portion inclined substantially perpendicularly to the body of the member, and a sleeve normally mounted co-axially with respeciztoathe rod with a portion surrounding that TpIOIlliOIl Of the body of the member adjacent the gradually sloped surface of the latching element, .saidsleeve beingmovable axially-with respect to the meme. her and over the gradually sloped face' thereof whereby it engages the element andretraots it inwardly.

4. A device for releasably retaining a partbn a rod extending therethrough comprising a retractable resilient member secured to one end of the rod and extending generally longitudinally with respect thereto, a latching element projecting laterally outwardly from the member at a position intermediate, its length and having in its normal position of rest, an outer limit of projection which is spaced beyond the outer diameter of the rod;.:adistance no greater than" the dista et a the member i nwardt ac ble, one face of the element being gradually sloped inwardly and the other face of the element having a portion inclined substantially perpendicularly to the body of the member, and a'sleeve havin an outside diameter at least as small as the diameter of the rod normally mounted co-axially with respect to the rod with a portion surrounding that portion of the body of the member adjacent the gradually sloped surface of the latching element, said sleeve being movable axially with respect to the member and over the gradually sloped face thereof whereby it engages the element and retracts it inwardly.

5. A device for releasably retaining a part on a rod extending therethrough comprising two retractable resilient members secured to one end of the rod and projecting generally axially therefrom, a latching element projecting laterally outwardly from at least one of the members at a position intermediate of its length and havin in its normal position of rest, an outer limit of projection which is spaced beyond the outer diameter of the rod a distance no greater than the distance that the member is inwardly retractable, one face of the element being gradually sloped inwardly and thepother face of the element having a portion abruptly inclined to the body of the member, and a cap mounted about the outermost projecting portion of the resilient members, said cap being movable axially with respect to the members and over the gradually sloped faces thereof whereby each element is engaged thereby and retracted inwardly.

6. A device for releasably retaining a part on a rod extending therethrough comprising two retractable resilient members secured to one. end of the rod and projecting generally axially therefrom, a latchin element projecting laterally outwardly from at least one of the members at a position intermediate of its length and having in its normal position of rest, an outer limit of proit jection which is spaced beyond the outer diameter of the rod'a distance no greater than' th e -dis-. tance that-the member is inwardlywretractable, one face-Jot the'ielement being gradually sloped inwardly and the otherlface of the element hay-- ing a .portion' abruptl inclined to. the body of the member,- and a cap-having an outside-db ameter at least as small as the diameter 'Ofth rod mounted about the-outermost projecting .portion of the resilient members, said-cap being movable axially with respect to the members andover the gradually sloped ifaces thereof whereby each element is engaged thereby and retracted linwardly.

'7. A device for releasably retaining a part on a rod extending therethrough :comprising a bifurcated un it having two retractable resilient membersl saiduni-t being secured to one end of the rod and with its members extending axially therefromg-each member having a latching ale, ment projecting laterally outwardly therefrom at a position intermediate of its length- :and having in its normal position o'fflrest, an outer limit of projection which is spaced beyond the "outer 1 diameter of the rodadi'stan'ceno greater-than the distance that the member is inwardly retractable; one'face of each of the elements being gradually sloped inwardly and the other 'face'of each ctr-thev elements having a portion-inclined abruptly to the body of the member, 'anda sleeve mounted about the outer projecting'portions of the members, sai'dsleeve being-- movable axially with re-v spect to the members-and over the gradual-1y sloped faces thereof whereby it engages the elements and-retracts them inwardly.

8. A device for releasably retainin a part on a rod extending therethrough comprising a bifurcated unit having two retractable resilient members, said unit being secured to one end of the rod and with its members extending axially therefrom, each member having a latching element projecting laterally outwardly therefrom at a position intermediate of its length and having in its normal position of rest, an outer limit of projection which is spaced beyond the outer diameter of the rod a distance no greater than the distance that the member is inwardly retractable, one face of each of the elements being gradually sloped inwardly and the other face of each of the elements having a portion inclined abruptly to the body of the member, and a sleeve having an outside diameter at least as small as the diameter of the rod mounted about the other projecting portions of the members, said sleeve being movableaxially with respect to the members and over the gradually sloped faces thereof whereby it engages the elements and retracts them inwardly.

9. A device for releasably retaining a part on a rod extending therethrough comprising a reduced diameter portion of the rod, said rod having a recess extending longitudinally along a portion of the reduced diameter portion of the rod, a retractable resilient member secured in the re- ;cess, a latching element projecting laterally outof the rod, said sleeve normally overlapping that portion of the body of the member adjacent the Igradually sloped surface of the latching element, said sleeve being movable axially along the re- 'duced diameter portion of the rod and over the gradually sloped face of the latching element whereby it engages the element and retracts it inwardly.

10. A device for releasably retaining a part on a rod extending therethrough comprising a reduced diameter portion of the rod, said rod having a recess extending longitudinally along a portion of the reduced diameter portion of the rod, a retractable resilient member secured in the recess, a latching element projecting laterally outwardly from the member at a position intermediate of its length andhavinginitsnormalpcsition of rest, an outer limit of projection which is spaced beyond the outer diameter of the rod a distance no greater than the distance that the member is inwardly retractable, one face of the element being gradually sloped inwardly and the other face of the element having a portion inclined abruptly to the body of the member, a sleeve positioned on the reduced diameter portion of the, rod and having an outside diameter at'least as small as the diameter of the rod, said sleeve normally overlapping that portion of the body of the member adjacent the gradually sloped surface of the latching element, said sleeve being movable axially along the reduced diameter portion of the rod and over the gradually sloped face of the latching element whereby it engages the element and retracts it inwardly.

11. In a device for releasably retaining a part on a rod extending therethrough and having a recess, a radially inwardly retractable resilient member secured in the recess in the rod and ex-- tending generally longitudinally with respect thereto, a latching element projecting laterally outwardly from the member at a position inter mediate of its length and having in its normal position of rest, an outer limit of projection which is spaced beyond the outer diameter of the rod a distance no greater than the distanc that the member is inwardly retractable, one face of the element being gradually sloped inwardly and the other face of the element having a portion inclined abruptly to the body of the member and a second portion sloped inwardly from the first portion and a sleeve normally mounted co-axially with respect to the rod with a portion surrounding that portion of the body of the member adjacent the first-mentioned gradually sloped surface of the latching element, said sleeve being movable axially with respect to the member and over the gradually sloped face thereof where by it engages the element and retracts it in-l wardly.

HENRY J. MCDERMOTT.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 995,055 Carr June 13, 1911 1,262,924 Crippen Apr. 16, 1918 Certificate of Correction Patent No. 2,497,267 February 14, 1950 HENRY J. MCDERMOTT It is hereby certified that error appears in the printed specification of the above numbered patent requiring correction as follows:

Column 6, line 53, for the word other read outer;

and that the said Letters Patent should be read with this correction therein that the same may conform to the record of the case in the Patent Office.

Signed and sealed this 4th day of July, A. D. 1950.

THOMAS F. MURPHY,

' Assistant Oommz'ssz'oner of Patents. 

